Dunlop Aircraft Tyres to open first US retread facility

ERJ staff report (PR)

Birmingham, UK – Dunlop Aircraft Tyres is to establish its first retreading facility in the US, the Birmingham-based company announced 26 Sept.

The company is currently evaluating a number of potential sites in the South East of the US and is planning to open the facility in early 2016.

The UK aircraft tire manufacturer and retreader said it will use the base to increase its competitiveness across the Americas, particularly on popular narrow and wide-bodied jet airliners and military aircraft.

Dunlop has until now employed independent distribution and retreading partners in the Americas to distribute new tyres and retread its tyre casings for regional turboprops and jets.

By offering local retreading within the region, Dunlop aims to bring increased choice to airlines, military aircraft operators and maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities.

Dunlop, based in Birmingham, UK, already supports a number of US-based airlines, including operators of regional jets and turboprops including the Bombardier Dash 8 series and Embraer E-Jets.

Customers include Compass Airlines which operates 42 E-Jets for Delta Connection and Republic Airlines which operates more than 150 Dunlop equipped E-Jets on behalf of America Eagle, United Express and US Airways Express.

“This new retreading facility, which will also distribute new tyres, will position us to expand our market share on several popular aircraft, including the Boeing 737NG,” said Dunlop Aircraft Tyres’ chairman, Ian Edmondson.

“Overseas expansion has been key to the company’s recent success. We now export more than 80 percent of the products we make in Birmingham and our strategy of offering local tyre distribution and retreading has already proven itself successful in Asia Pacific,” Edmondson added.

In 2009, Dunlop Aircraft Tyres opened a similar tyre distribution and retreading facility in China. It employs nearly 60 people and supports airlines across Asia Pacific including Air Nelson, ANA, China Express, Japan Air Commuter, Mandarin Airlines, QantasLink and SpiceJet.